The team has a stacked farm system and made two of the offseason's biggest splashes, signing lefty ace Jon Lester and hiring manager Joe Maddon away from the Rays. Everyone from Sporting News to Jeremy Piven to "Back to Future II" predict the Cubbies will win the World Series for the first time since 1908. Even first baseman Anthony Rizzo says the team will make the postseason.

He compared the 2015 Cubs to the Royals of 2011. That team had some of the game's best prospects but finished 71-91. After three years of hit-and-miss performances, Kansas City appeared in the World Series last fall.

"Is it going to take that long for our guys? It very well could," Epstein said. "Young players deserve patience."